Monday, January 15, 2018

Thank you for contacting me about the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) 2015 Open Internet Order, often referred to as the net neutrality rule. I appreciate you taking the time to make me aware of your concerns on this important issue. You may be pleased to know that I support the FCC's net neutrality rule and oppose the current FCC Chairman's efforts to dismantle it.

As you know, the FCC net neutrality rule reclassifies broadband internet access as a “telecommunications service” under Title II of the Communications Act, while exempting broadband internet from hundreds of older, utility-era regulations, such as rate regulation, that could unintentionally reduce future investment in broadband innovation and expansion. As the Chairman of the FCC noted in announcing the Open Internet Order, using authorities under Title II and Section 706 of the Communications Act makes sure the net neutrality rule rests "...on the strongest legal foundation to preserve and protect an open Internet."

This statement was confirmed on June 14, 2016, when the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld the legality of the FCC’s 2015 Open Internet Order. On May 1, 2017, that same Court denied the United States Telecom Association's petition for a rehearing of the case, effectively upholding the 2016 ruling that affirmed the FCC's legal authority to develop, issue and enforce net neutrality.

As a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Technology, which oversees the FCC, I am committed to protecting net neutrality rules. We must protect consumers by banning internet service providers from engaging in paid prioritization, blocking and throttling. All of these restrictive practices not only harm consumers, but they threaten the very freedom of the internet. I am disappointed that the new Chairman of the FCC is working to undo the 2015 Open Internet Order, which achieved a reasonable balance between the need to establish clear, enforceable rules that protect consumers, while protecting internet service providers from regulation that stifles innovation and investment.

Congress must not allow cable or telephone companies to act as gatekeepers of what content consumers may receive. That is why I have voted against efforts to weaken the FCC's long-standing statutory authority protect internet users from unfair and anticompetitive practices. As your Senator, I am committed to promoting an open Internet that is free from censorship. Freedom of the Internet is crucial for the success of our economy and the free flow of ideas. I will continue to monitor this situation and keep your views in mind as the new Republican-appointed Chairman of the FCC seeks to repeal the 2015 Open Internet Order.

Thank you again for contacting me on this important issue. If you would like more information on my work in the Senate, please visit my website atwww.duckworth.senate.gov. You can find upcoming events in the state, sign up for my newsletter, access my voting record and see what I am doing to address today’s most important issues. I hope that you will continue to share your views and opinions with me and let me know whenever I may be of assistance to you.

Thank you for contacting me about proposed budget cuts for environmental protections. I appreciate hearing from you and I share your concerns.

In March, President Trump released his Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 request. This budget request would reduce funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to $5.7 billion, a 31 percent decrease from FY 2017.

The budget proposal would reduce the EPA's staff by 20 percent in the first year, eliminate dozens of important environmental programs entirely, and cut grants to states by 30 percent. This would hurt efforts to fight catastrophic changes in our climate such as rising sea levels, increased storm intensity, and threats to public health from an expanded range of insect-borne diseases like West Nile virus and Lyme disease. Unpredictable weather patterns could reduce agricultural productivity in Illinois and across the United States. The effects of these changes could devastate population centers.

Other important environmental agencies are facing cuts as well. President Trump has proposed cutting funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) by 16 percent for FY 2018. Specifically, funding for education, grants and research would face the largest funding cuts. Many scientists are concerned that the deep cuts at NOAA could hurt safety as well as academic programs.

Congress must make a responsible budget plan that promotes strong environmental protections. Protecting our environment and the public from pollution is one of the most important legacies we can leave to future generations.

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will keep your concerns in mind as funding for environmental programs is discussed in the Senate.

Thank you for contacting me about this issue. Please feel free to keep in touch.

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Thank you for contacting me to share your views about net neutrality. I appreciate hearing from you.

In February 2015, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to adopt new net neutrality rules that would preserve the internet as an open platform for consumer choice and competition. These rules prohibited Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from blocking or slowing down customers' access to websites and banned ISPs from charging content providers for faster delivery of certain information to users.

The FCC adopted these rules by taking a regulatory step to reclassify broadband service under Title II of the Telecommunications Act. Reclassification of broadband under Title II provided the agency with much broader authority to establish strong net neutrality rules and allowed broadband services to be treated as a public utility. Opponents argue the reclassification was an overreach of the agency's authority and will increase taxes on consumers.

On May 18, 2017, the FCC voted to adopt the proposed rule, Restoring Internet Freedom (Docket 17-108). The rule rolled back many of the central tenants of net neutrality. The rule also repealed regulations allowing the FCC to investigate suspected anti-competitive business practices of ISPs.

On December 12, 2017, I joined 38 of my Senate Democratic colleagues in a letter calling on FCC Chairman Pai to abandon his plan to repeal the agency's net neutrality rules. However, on December 14, 2017, despite millions of public comments opposing the action and over the objections of tech companies like Netflix, Reddit, and Etsy, the FCC voted along party lines to repeal the net neutrality rules.

The rollback of net neutrality threatens access to a free and open internet. This action amounts to the FCC letting ISPs pick winners and losers, charge people more for service, and even block certain parts of the internet.

On December 15, I announced that I will cosponsor a Congressional Review Act resolution Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts is planning to introduce that would undo the FCC's harmful action of repealing net neutrality rules.

A transparent and fairly managed flow of information is essential to a true democracy and benefits a growing economy. I will keep your thoughts in mind should the Senate consider legislation that would impact net neutrality rules.